Photo courtesy of Food & Drink
sta occasione. Tutta l’isola vive il carnevale come una festa, con danze di strada, bellissimi costumi, concorsi di steel band, canto e musica calypso e con l’elezione del re e della regina del carnevale. Il culmine dei festeggiamenti si raggiunge il primo lunedì d’agosto dove, alle quattro del mattino, i fuochi si accendono e comincia il Jouvert Morning ( si pronuncia “jouvei”), quando tutti si riuniscono per le strade della capitale formando un gigantesco serpentone danzante. Il giorno dopo verso le tredici la gran
ST A MA NGO FE ALL’ ANTIGUMA NGO FEST A IL AL MA NGO UN COCK TAO COCK TAIL AT ANTIGU A MA NG
parata finale: per le vie cittadine sfilano le bande musicali in costume e si proclamano i vincitori, che guidano il corteo per un trionfale giro di St. John’s. Ogni anno a novembre, si svolge l’Antigua & Barbuda International Literary Festival in cui scrittori, poeti e sceneggiatori, tengono “workshops” nei quali si leggono libri e poesie con la partecipazione d’importanti autori e editori carabici, americani, inglesi e canadesi. E per finire, il primo di novembre si celebra l’“Antigua’s Independence” una cerimonia importante, dove si ricorda l’indipendenza dall’Inghilterra. Le festività normalmente cominciano con numerose attività verso la metà di ottobre per arrivare al vero giorno dell’indipendenza. Durante questo periodo le costruzioni principali e palazzi governativi sono adornati con decorazioni colorate e con i tessuti (Madras) dai colori nazionali.
Queen Pageants, the local calypso, soca and steel pan music competitions, and live entertainment on the streets. July starts the 55th Antigua Carnival Celebrations. It is a ten day event that begins in the last week of July and ends during the first week of August. The festival features colourful parades, Carnival queen pageants, the local calypso, soca and steel pan music competitions and live entertainment on the streets. During this period a host of local dishes can be purchased from booths that line the streets just for the occasion. The culmination is two days of dancing and revelry in the streets of St. John’s, with carnival bands full of merrymakers dressed in elegantly decorated, colourful costumes. This is followed by the Antigua Mango Fest in mid August, a food and drink festival dedicated to the local fruit - Antigua is said to have over twenty different varieties of mango. This is a time when amateur and professional chefs, as well as farmers, come together to celebrate the harvest of this delectable, exotic fruit. The competition is stiff as local chefs and bartenders use the opportunity to attempt to outdo each other in concocting their various mango recipes. September brings forth the 9th Annual De Jam Festival as well as the Frankie Nunes Memorial Fishing Tournament for those fisher folk who missed the Annual Tournament in June or who wish to compete once again. Heritage (National Dress) Day on October 31st leads the way to the run-up to celebrating Antigua’s Independence celebrations. A gala affair where the tiny, twin-island state celebrates its declaration of political independence from Britain. The festivities usually begin in mid to late October with numerous activities leading up to the actual day of independence, Nov 1st. During this time major businesses and government office buildings are festooned in brightly coloured decorations bearing the national colours - blue, black, red, yellow and white and the fabric, madras. As with all other Caribbean Islands local cuisine is an essential component of Antigua & Barbuda’s culture. There are a number of indigenous festivals that celebrate it, such as the annual local Independence Day Food Fair. The annual Antigua & Barbuda International Literary Festival is also held in November, a celebration of the work of local and international writers, poets and playwrights through workshops, author readings, book signings and special events which feature prominent Caribbean, U.S., British and Canadian authors as well as publicists and publishers.
www.thetreasureislands.com
ENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EV
25